STATE BOUND

ALAMO — Jennifer Gonzalez and Ianelli Escobedo are looking to take the next step.

The PSJA Memorial wrestlers have been to the UIL state wrestling meet before, with Gonzalez set for her fourth appearance when she steps on the mat this Friday at the Delco Center in Austin.

Gonzalez, a 95-pound senior, made it to the second day last year and is eyeing a medal herself this weekend.

“My drive is that I just want to go out there and give it my best,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve always gone further every year. This year I’m planning on doing better. I want to go further and just see where it takes me.”

Gonzalez and Escobedo are the latest in a line of PSJA Memorial girls wrestlers that started the trek to state in 1999. Wolverines coach Joe Clark said girls wrestling in the Rio Grande Valley began in ’99 with PSJA Memorial 185-pounder Zerlynda Cervantes, who spent her practice time mixing it up with the school’s boys wrestlers.

Clark estimates that since Cervantes (and including Gonzalez and Escobedo), the program has sent eight wrestlers to the state meet. But the school is still waiting for its first medalist. Perhaps more importantly, Clark hopes that college recruiters will take hard looks at Gonzalez and Escobedo (110 pounds) as both seniors are making their last appearances at the scholastic level.

Gonzalez said she has already been contacted by Missouri State and Cumberland (Ky.) University.

“If we can get into the second day, I think we might be able to get somebody on the podium,” Clark said. “I also expect to see a couple of scholarship offers at state for both the girls.

“I think the exposure will definitely help them. That’s what it’s all about so we can get them looks at college.”

Gonzalez and Escobedo finished second in their respective weight classes at the Region IV tournament in San Antonio a couple of weeks ago. Gonzalez enters state with a 16-3 record, while Escobedo is 26-3.

“I’m just going to go out there and do my best,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been practicing hard. I just want to go out there and leave everything on the mat and do what I love to do.”

Todd Mavreles is the Deputy Sports Editor for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.